EN DORIGNY FOOTBRIDGE

BORDAS+PEIRO

Biography: Anna Maria Bordas, Miquel Peiro

Anna Maria Bordas, born in 1983, graduated as an engineer in Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (Paris) and later on graduated summa cum laude as an architect in the ENSAVT Paris. Involved in teaching, she lectures Project to both architecture and engineering students (at ENSAVT an EIVP).

Miquel Peiro, born in 1979, graduated as an engineer in Escuela de Caminos, Canales y Puertos and has also in Environmental Sciences. He teaches construction and ambiances in two architecture schools, ENSAB and ENSAVT. Prior to creating bordas+peiro, they both worked in big-scale projects like the Fondation Louis Vuitton, or the Phare Tower project, where they put in practice the link between idea and materialisation.

They created bordas+peiro architecte+ingénieur in 2011 to put in practice both architecture and engineering projects. Against the mainstream by their theory and premises, they are diametrically opposed to the stereotype of young trendy architect. They believe quality architecture is not necessarily linked to asymmetrical designs or preppy colours. Their work is infused/based in by in a sort of move backwards to roots, to the question of what is essential in architecture.

Their production is sincere, serene, and finds often roots into context and their specific way of looking at existing conditions, by attaching to pertinent, elegant technical solutions.

The project is not just treated as an independent plot, but participates into the creation of the city and is placed into context to last. Creating alchemy, they reconcile urban needs and programmatic needs. Their analytical capacity is also key into introducing a particular way of looking at existing conditions. Why neglected, abandoned spaces are so? Which is the essence that needs to be kept? What can be done to inverse the degradation process? In a morose economical context and society lost within consumerism and in seek of environmentally sustainable solutions; pertinence is most important.

They have recently won the Metro station at Clichy Montfermeil for Société du Grand Paris in association with EMBT, and have just delivered the first phase of a Farmhouse rehabilitation. They have been invited to give conferences about their practice and methods within different cities. Anna Maria Bordas was awarded prix AJAC 2012 by the Architects order of Barcelona and honorary mention to EFCA European Prize in 2013. She is part of the AMO Prize Quality working spaces Jury for the 2014 edition and innovation prize Besnard de Quelen. Miquel Peiro won the EFCA prize in 2012.

EN DORIGNY FOOTBRIDGE

For this project, the main problem - the big level difference into higher part and lower part of the project, plus extraordinary slope in arrival zone - is turned into its best asset. The project is conceived around visual sequences “remote / close / remote” enhancing main attractive points around the site which cannot be seen from the site today: the forest, the former barn and the Geneva Lake. This initial premise infuses most choices: plan disposition, aerial public square and monumental stairs coupled with secondary footbridges crossing through the trees.

Facing nature, every single element of the footbridge is conceived in order to project the user to the end of the crossing, by creating an acceleration of perspective through waving parapets and linear street furniture, lightning and planted areas. Once the user has crossed the highway, he enters the natural ambiance of the landscaped campus by passing through the grove existing on the landing site, and perceives at first the former barn, and by turning the Leman Lake. The public square is raised to footbridge level in order to take advantage of Geneva Lake view and sun which is hidden by Anthropole building at soil level. The whole structure is conceived in harmony with the forest ambiance, by choosing corten steel material, a very slender profile using parapets as structure following bending lines and tree-form piles. This project has been awarded 2n prize in an open international competition. The jury quoted “ the project is elegant, offering good technical solutions. Its is also clearly packed with good ideas, for example concerning the light or the reinforcement of landscape qualities, proposing a pleasand stroll and sitting areas”.

Gem, if it helps you for this last bit, En français, le jury avait écrit:

« le projet est élégant, bien travaillé sur le plan technique, il est aussi truffé de bonnes idées, par exemple pour la lumière ou pour renforcer ses qualités paysagères, offrir une balade agréable aux usagers, offrir des éléments de repos. «

En-Dorigny

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